BMW Geniune ipod Interface

[james8whippy]

Hey Guys,

I have seen this on flebay and wondered if anyone has had experience with these?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Genuine-i ... 495wt_1396

It says it covers:
E53 SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) X5 3.0d - X5 4.8is 01 September 1999 to 30 September 2006

which means it should fit my 4.6IS.

Where do they plug into and are they any good?

Thanks
James

[gadgetJunky72]

all it does is allow you to play the first 5 playlists in the iPod.

You will be able to the adjust the volume and track up/down through the head unit and steering wheel controls.

Do a search for Intravee, DICE, and Dension. They are at different price points and provide different features. All of which i'd say are better than what the BMW iPod interface offers.

also check if your X5 already has the AUX input in the glove box. I found mine by accident. You can connect an iPod to that by using the output from the headphone jack.

[james8whippy]

Oh really that's annoying if you can only play playlists as I don't use playlist I normally use shuffle or pick the albums.
Thanks I have found the Dice Mediabridge and Dension gateway 5 so will compare them.

OK thanks I will have look in the glovebox! I know I have got AUX inputs in the back but I don't know how to get it onto the AUX input on the sat nav? Also what I silly place to put it. As you say yours has the glove box which is a much better idea.

Thanks
James

[gadgetJunky72]

the ones in the back are for audio and video and i think can be accessed by selecting the 'AV' channel on the TV tuner. you might have to pay BMW for specific leads though. not sure.

The Intravee / Alpine KCA 420 combination is considered the best iPod interface on here and gives you a few extra. do a forum search. it'll cost around £200 + fitting though.

[gobiman]

I fitted the intravee/Alpine KCA 420 combo 3 years ago and it works very well. Found all I needed to know on this forum. Things may have changed but -
1. Cost less than £200 from memory - search for the two bits on ebay separately. £130 ish?? + a couple of cables
2. I am not very competent mechanically but was able to fit it myself - running cables, one box under back seat and making a small hole in centre glovebox between seats in centre. Took less than an hour at a slow pace. A very good guide is on the forum.
3. Bought an old "classic" IPOD which lives in the centre glovebox attached where it is constantly charged. Gets taken out periodically to be updated with latest music. Only inconvenience is it has to be touched out of "deep sleep" mode when used - but it is right there in the deep glovebox and to hand.
4. Very pleased with the result and functionality.

[james8whippy]

Thanks for the replies guys! after spending the weekend researching the different pieces of kit you suggested.

I have settled for the Dice Mediabridge mainly due to the fact I can bluetooth the music and I can pick the music off my iPhone rather than have a device plugged in all the time.

Hopefully should arrive this week and fingers crossed for nice weather at the weekend and will get it fitted

Thanks
James